The corners of his mouth were slightly down, and his hair was hanging low over his forehead, so it was hard to tell if he was worrying. One thing was national coach Joachim Loew after the draw of the European Championship groups in any case not in the face: relaxed satisfaction - or satisfied looseness, as one wants.
That was no wonder: after all, it could not have been harder for national coach Löw and the German national football team. At the European Championships next year, the DFB team must fight with the world champion France and the European champion Portugal for the entry into the knockout phase.
After the first shock Loew laughed but then, as well as his French coach colleague Didier Deschamps and the Portuguese Fernando Santos. All three of them were well aware that they had fallen into something in the Romexpo Exhibition Center of Bucharest, which is commonly described as a "death group".
The looks on their faces say it all
(via @ EURO2020) pic.twitter.com/u1TQdiqeWE
"This is a Hammer Group"
Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann - In the opening game against the French on 16 June, the German defense must keep some of the world's best attackers away from their own goal. The second game on June 20 denies the DFB selection against Portugal - there run known as Cristiano Ronaldo in attack around. If things go bad for Löw and Co., the third group game could already be meaningless.
Christian Charisius / DPA
Losfee Philipp Lahm draws Portugal: "Hammer Group" for Germany
Whereby the third opponent is not yet determined. Seven options still exist because of the controversial procedure. If Iceland, Bulgaria or co-hosts Hungary win the playoff path A, this team is in the German group. But if Romania prevails there, things will be different: since Romania has to co-host Group A, the winner of Path D would join the DFB Group: Georgia, Northern Macedonia, Kosovo or Belarus.
Everyone is in the group to the limit to have a chance to get into the knockout stages, "Loew said after the draw. More optimistic than his facial expression had previously suggested, he added, "I am pleased." DFB President Fritz Keller said: "With these games, we can kindle football fever in Germany." This is a hammer-lot. "
The # EURO2020 groups have been drawn!
Which are you excited for? pic.twitter.com/CU7SvtNAXq
"It's the heaviest of all six groups"
DFB Director Oliver Bierhoff added, "We certainly will not be a favorite in the group and we've found it the hardest hit, which will be a big challenge for our young squad and I hope our home advantage will boost them." All three group games will complete the DFB selection in Munich, which was already fixed before the draw.
But will the home advantage against Mbappé and Ronaldo be enough? In the Nations League last time - also in Munich - 0: 0 and in Paris a 1: 2 against France. At the Euro 2016 they flew out against the team in the semifinals (0: 2). Löw has better memories of Portugal. At the European Championship 2012 (1: 0) and on the way to the World Cup title 2014 (4: 0) there were preliminary round victories.
Respect is still with the opponents - despite the German preliminary round-out at the 2018 World Cup. "In the class of our opponents we have to bring directly performance," said France coach Deschamps: "It is the heaviest of all six groups, we know the quality the enemy."
Löw now needs a new training partner
Deschamps was self-confident: "But you will not be very happy to have France in your group." Lucas Hernández from Bayern Munich commented: "They should be the ones who are afraid: we are France, we are the world champions, we have respect, but we are never afraid on the pitch."
The draw also puts Löw ahead of schedule: Portugal now fail as a training game opponent, of course you do not want to reveal his latest tactics (or free-kick variants) early on. "It was our turn to Portugal, so we have to change our minds so we have a few more options," Löw said.
In March, the DFB selection plays in Spain, as the second opponent is now the World Cup third Belgium in conversation. In the immediate preparation of Germany guest in Switzerland, also takes place before the tournament against France in Munich yet another international match.
Germany's record against France: 9 wins, 8 draws, 14 defeats
Germany's record against Portugal: 10 wins, 5 draws, 3 defeats
